Ready for Another 'neutral' Discussion?

I could not get to sleep last night because I have a migraine so to take my mind off the pain, I thought about my closet. And in particular, the colors in my closet. This morning I counted the colors in my wardrobe to help identify them as neutral or accent colors. We have had several of these discussions in the past here and here, and I am sure others I could not find. Then I identified my colors as

Neutral:
•black/navy blue
• white/cream
•cobalt
•burgundy/wine
•accents - teal, chambray, silver grey
•yellow gold

My closet really does not reflect this list now. (maybe it did not then because I did not count) Here is my count and I did not include coats, shoes, and bags. And I lumped the colors in to color categories and counted an item that was not solid as a print. (subtle stripes, checks, etc.)

blue - 23
black - 20
print - 20
white/cream - 19
burgundy/red - 10
grey - 5
teal - 4
green - 3
purple - 1

Based on the numbers, I am going to say that my neutrals are blue, black and white/cream. My accent colors are burgundy/red and print.

Have you noticed a change in your neutral and accent colors? And do you think identifying your neutral and accent colors by count is valid?

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Neutrals are colours that sorta go with everything, right? You know, I sorta think of neutrals as solids... visual rest... and I'm all over the board.

Jenn

(website)

I just started using the ClosetSpace app and find its color analysis really fascinating. I've been working on moving away from black, but if you look at my color graph, I'm obviously still wearing an awful lot of it, although I am pairing it with brown accessories.

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Alassë

Interesting findings, Jenn. I bet it is fascinating to track.

always trying

For me neutrals are more confusing than colors. like never find navy that goes with other navy, there are probably 50 shades of grey-and the tannish greys do not go with the blue greys, etc. Even all blacks are not the same..an there are probably 100 shade of white.

Jeweled

I started out with the intention of white, khaki, taupe, and blue denim as my neutrals.

Somehow I've never added much khaki - I just haven't seen much of it in items that I would wear.

And taupe has started veering closer to brown.

Oh, and olive keeps popping in, insisting to be one of my neutrals! LOL

Meanwhile, white and blue denim are still strong neutrals for me.

texstyle

Color is one of the biggest lessons in fashion I've begun to learn since being on YLF. I find that many colors go together as neutrals when I add accessories in my hair color - like today I'm wearing a charcoal gray graphic tee with white print with med. blue jeans a light tan belt that matches my hair and shoes that are white with tan/jute accents. I have an off white beaded bracelet and silver bracelet together and an off white bag.

I could easily wear olive, black or white pants and one of many solid color tops with the same belt/shoes/jewelry as it's the neutral accessories that help tie it all together in my eye.

So for me "neutral" colors are just as important in my shoes, belts, bags and jewelry to tie things together.

I sometimes pair a navy top with blue jeans but rarely a navy top with navy trousers. It just doesn't feel as right on me.

My neutrals lately are dark blue, charcoal, off white, white, blonde, and olive - I will wear more burgundy and deep brown when fall kicks in.

Thank you, Texstyle, you just gave me a major "Aha!" moment.

The neutrals that keep insinuating themselves into my wardrobe despite my planning are the colors that actually exist on me - my hair is dark brown sprinkled with white, and my eyes are an olive green.

Hence the white, dark brown, and olive that I keep adding to my wardrobe.

Thanks for sparking this insight!

Elly

Hmm--- I think I missed this last time but have ID'd my neutrals here before.

I identified my neutrals as black (19), navy (10), and gray (7) and my secondary colors as olive (2 pieces), warm brown (4 pieces), and deep red (3 pieces). I counted my prints as the dominant color (mine are mostly subtle stripes and plaids with a definite color family) except for one bright printed dress. I also have 3 white/cream items, a pink shirt, and purple glasses. I was personally surprised that I had more brown and white than olive. I'd like to add a few more pops of color into my wardrobe in the burgundy/orange and blue colorways.

Cerinda

Here's what's in my closet for summer-fall and fall-winter transitions. Prints? only 3 stripes, 3 boho florals, 1 lace in the whole closet; the scarf drawer is, however, really LOUD.

I think I want a bit more color (ok, for me that really means color-as-neutral). I've added 3 pieces in wine already and am looking for more. Just found a blush tank (can't wait to try http://youlookfab.com/2015/08/.....ndy-blush/). Looking out for wine and olive jeans.

I adore every kind of taupe: not seeing much, though. I had hoped to be adding more grey, too, but am having trouble finding flattering shades.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

OK, I thought about this for a while, hoping to add something intelligent to this discussion, and it occurs to me that for me it's not about neutral vs not-neutral, it's about contrast in outfits. In other words, I very rarely wear monochromatic or tonal looks. Assuming I am wearing two main pieces, I will combine two neutrals, two colors, or a color and a neutral - but almost never the same neutral or the same color in the same outfit. That's excluding shoes, which often do echo one of the colors in the outfit or shades of the same color. So for me, it's more important whether the two (or more) colors in the outfit have the proper contrast, not whether one of them is a neutral or not. (I prefer medium contrast - I wouldn't wear plain white and plain black together, but maybe if one of them was a print incorporating colors of the other. I wouldn't wear all shades of olive, either, but I'd wear olive and black, or olive and white.)

But anyway...in the strict, 'other people agree' version, my neutrals are black, gray, navy, denim blue, white, and ivory. In shoes and bags I think a muted metallic can be a neutral. I also wear olive and burgundy like neutrals sometimes, and increasingly have shoes that are in the brown/taupe/nude family.

Staysfit

Deb, all my sympathy for your migraine! I hope you have fully recovered!!

I have never done an actual count by color, but this would be interesting. just glancing in my closet it's clear that my color accents are raspberry reds, coral pinks, and blue greens. My neutrals are grey, white and indigo blue from denim.

I can say that my white neutrals change position but not prominence between seasons. So I wear white skirts, jeans, slacks, dresses and skirts in summer/spring, but when the weather cools down, the white shifts to my sweaters and tops. It's too slushy most of the cold months for white bottoms!

Anonymous

This is indeed interesting. First off, I would like to check out the Closet app thing someday when I have time, which will be never. So I'll do it tomorrow ! I also am curious how counting neutrals vs accents in my own closet would pan out. I could not even guess right now, but I bet I'll find too many 1's or 2's of a colour, or some odd print that doesn't work. I think I'll be doing more of this type of exercise when it comes to change things over for fall - which I will start doing after the Sept long weekend. Figuring out where you are heavy in one or two colours, and really low on others is an excellent way to stop shopping at those ends.....if your goal is to even things out.

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